Old regime HRA + 80C stack: a worked example
Build the deduction pile in order
For Tax Year 2026-27, start in the HRA calculator: basic, HRA received, rent paid, metro or non-metro. Note the exempt HRA. Then sketch 80C: EPF already going out, plus PPF/ELSS up to the shared ceiling so the total claimed is realistic—not ₹1.5 lakh of wishful policies. Add standard deduction for the old regime when you move to the tax calculator.
A mid-salary sketch (illustrative only)
Suppose ₹18 lakh gross, meaningful rent in a 50% city, and about ₹1.5 lakh of genuine 80C. Exempt HRA might be one to two lakhs depending on the three caps—your figures will differ. In the income-tax calculator, compare old regime with those deductions against the new regime with standard deduction and without HRA/80C. Around this band, a solid HRA+80C stack can still beat new; a weak rent claim often cannot.
Replace the sketch with payroll truth
Swap in your Form 16 basics, actual rent proofs, and EPF. Employer NPS under 80CCD(2) can appear in both regimes—add it if it exists. The worked example is a method, not a promise that old wins at ₹18 lakh for everyone.
Results from FinanceChacha are estimates for planning, not financial or tax advice. Read the disclaimer.
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